Susie Blankenship
Decatur
A graveside funeral service and interment for Susie Blankenship, 73, were held Jan. 29 at 11 a.m. at New Center Cemetery with Bro. John Chesser officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 
Miss Blankenship died Jan. 26 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born Nov. 2, 1946, in Morgan County to Neal Edward Blankenship and Lucy Adell Caudle Blankenship. She was a homemaker.  

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Joe Blankenship and Edgar Van Blankenship.
Survivors include three brothers, John Wayne Blankenship (Lynn), Roy Blankenship (Pat) and Dan Blankenship; and two sisters, Margaret Hanners (Robert) and Shelia Davis.
Pallbearers were Joseph Baker, Alan Thurston, Dusty Hopper, Gary Blankenship, Jacob Blankenship, Eric Blankenship, Von Yeager, Joe Blankenship Jr. and Jake Albright.

Susie Blankenship

Robert R. Brown (Bobby)
Decatur
Funeral service for Robert R. Brown (Bobby), 82, was Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church with Pastor Shannon Jordan officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery in Tuscumbia. 
Mr. Brown died Jan. 26 at his residence. He was born April 7, 1937, in Colbert County to Wade Huston Brown Sr. and Jeannette Ferguson Brown. He was an elder for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Decatur and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Auburn University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration. He was a veteran of the Army National Guard and an avid golfer, hunter and fisherman. He loved supporting his grandchildren’s many sports activities. He was employed by Intergraph Corporation, as a human resources director, prior to his retirement.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Wade Huston (Butch) Brown Jr.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Patricia Wells Brown, Decatur; one son, Robert Keith Brown (Kristi), Trinity; one daughter, Sandra Elizabeth Harmon (Chris), Birmingham; one sister, Peggy Vickers (Joe), Muscle Shoals; and six grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Askren, Haley Harmon, Drew Brown, Ben Brown, Kodee Teague and Karlie Schrimsher.
Pallbearers were Keith Brown, Drew Brown, Ben Brown, Kodee Teague, Chris Harmon, Dusty Green, Kelly Harmon and Stu Harmon.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 801 Jackson St., Decatur, AL 35601 or to the Hospice of the Valley, Decatur. 

Martha Jean Grimes
Sharpsburg, Georgia
Funeral service for Martha Jean Grimes, 74, was Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Randy Sellers officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Union Hill Cemetery. 
Mrs. Grimes died Jan. 25 at Piedmont Newnan Hospital.
She was born Sept. 16, 1945, in Florida to Leslie Eugene Holmes and Lizzie Averine Childers Holmes. She was an account manager for the Atlanta Postal Credit Union prior to her retirement. She was a graduate of Eva High School.  

Preceding her in death were her parents; a brother, Charles Wesley Holmes; and a sister, Teresa Lynn Higdon.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas Grimes, Sharpsburg, Ga.; one son, Michael Saint (Anna), Ranger, Ga.; one daughter, Gina Easter (Jeff), Moreland, Ga.; one brother, Joel Holmes (Melvie), Eva; and four grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Grant Holmes, Nathan Holmes, George Frost, Brett Hall, Jeff Frost and Steve Childers. 

Charles Wayne Atkins
Decatur
Funeral service for Charles Wayne Atkins, 87, was Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. at Somerville Church of God with Bro. Michael Gunter and Bro. Pearl Jenkins officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.  Burial was in Somerville Church of God Cemetery. 
Mr. Atkins died Jan. 28 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born Dec. 6, 1932, in Morgan County to Robert Ernest Atkins and Betty Elizabeth (Williams) Atkins.  

Mr. Atkins was a Navy veteran and was a contract specialist at Redstone Arsenal prior to his retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Linda Sue White Atkins; two
brothers; and three sisters.
Survivors include two daughters, Suzanne Sharp (Greg) and Colette Carnes (John); one brother, Carly “JC” Atkins; two sisters, Carol Parson (Steve) and Dianna Gurley (Joel); five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren
The family and friends served as pallbearers. 

Margaret Jane Smallwood
Falkville
Funeral service for Margaret Jane Smallwood, 77, was Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor David Beck and Pastor David Smith officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Mt. Tabor Cemetery. 
Mrs. Smallwood died Jan. 28 at St. Vincent’s Hospital.
She was born Dec. 25, 1942, in Morgan County to Rufus Bryant Teague and Margaret Esther Orr Teague. She was a homemaker wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She was a servant of her Lord, had a servant’s heart, loved cooking for everyone and was a member of the Cross Baptist Church.
Preceding her in death were her parents and a daughter, Penny Hazel.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Pastor Glenn Smallwood; two sons, Billy Smallwood (Judy) and Tony Smallwood (Suzy); one daughter, Mary Jane Turrentine; four brothers, Jimmy Teague, Paul Teague, David Teague and Charles Teague; one sister, Carolyn James; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends.
Pallbearers were Cody, Brodie, Raymond, E.J., Lynn Burns and Bob. 

Willie “Billie” Merle Vest
Hartselle
A graveside funeral service and interment for Willie “Billie” Merle Vest, 87, were held Feb. 1 at noon at Hartselle Memory Gardens with Bro. Charles Sparks officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 
Ms. Vest died Jan. 30 at Falkville Health Care Center.
She was born Nov. 30, 1932, in Lawrence County to Vernon Smith and Cora Ferguson Smith. She was employed as a job coach for the Tennessee Valley Rehabilitation Center prior to her retirement. She enjoyed gardening and loved to cook, especially preparing Sunday dinner for her children and grandchildren, who were the light of her life.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Danny Carl Vest; a daughter, Carol Joyce Vest;
daughter-in-law, Latitia Vest; two sisters, Doris Shepard and Joyce Foster; and the father of her children, Connie Carl “C.C.” Vest.
Survivors include one daughter, Connie Michele Vest; two sons, John Alan Vest (Trina) and Timothy James Vest; one daughter-in-law, Linda Dean Vest; one brother, J.D. Smith (Kim); six grandchildren, Amy Vest King (Allen), Katy Pate (Phillip), Olivia Ann Blackburn (Jesse), Jessica Allyn Davis (Michael), Lucas James Vest (Amanda) and Anderil McNalley; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and
three step-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Keith Ferguson, Allen King, Jesse Blackburn and Lucas Vest. 

Gene Greer Parker
Hartselle
Funeral service for Gene Greer Parker, 83, was Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. at Hartselle Church of Christ with Phillip Hines and Todd Barrier officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Hartselle Memory Gardens.
Mr. Parker passed away Jan. 30. He was born Jan. 18, 1937, in Cullman County to Leroy Esta Parker and Annie Laura Tillery Parker. He was employed by Joe Wheeler Co-op for 37.5 years as a lineman
and service truck operator prior to his retirement. He was a member and served as a deacon of the Hartselle Church of Christ.  

Mr. Parker also served for eight years with the National Guard.  

Preceding him in death were his wife, Arvella Adams Parker; his parents; a brother, Jack Parker; and a
sister, Virginia Helton.
Survivors include two daughters, Lisa Parker (Tony) and Jan Harris (Jeff); five grandchildren, Adam Parker, Jeremy Harris (Lura), Jordan Parker (Charleston), Josh Harris (Meagan) and Joy Haynes (James); seven great-grandchildren; and nephew Bill Helton.
Pallbearers were Adam Parker, Jeremy Harris, Jordan Parker, Josh Harris, James Haynes and Jeff Johnson.
Honorary pallbearers were the deacons of Hartselle Church of Christ.

James Hershell Martin
Hartselle
Funeral service for James Herschell “Nump” Martin, 94, of Hartselle was Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Steve McCurry and Eddie Turrentine officiating and burial in Burningtree Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Martin died peacefully at home surrounded by his family Jan. 31. He was born in Morgan County April 21, 1925, to Ishmael Elmer Martin and Savannah Lanier Martin. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater as a member of the U.S. Army. He then worked with McDonald-Douglas in Tulsa, Okla., followed by starting his career with Mission Command in 1954, which became NASA, where he served until retirement in 1985.  

He was friends with all the astronauts and loved training them in operation of the Apollo and shuttle programs. He was an avid fan of Alabama football, basketball and the Atlanta Braves. He loved
his wife, Roberta Turrentine Martin, who preceded him in death, his children,
grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great–grandchildren.  

He was a member and lifelong attendee of Basham Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brothers, Wallace and Ishmael (Pee Wee) Martin; and sisters, Zola Mae Legg, Clara Faye Vail, Imogene Wise, Lola Pearl Ferrel and Geneva Morris.
Survivors include one daughter, Robin Martin (Terry) McKay; one son, James “Jimmy” Herschell Martin Jr.; eight grandchildren, Maranda Brown Gray (Shaun), Christopher Scott Brown (Carlissa), Derek Heath Brown (Jacklynn), Kristan Martin Browning (LJ), Jamie Martin Lyle (Ryan), Amanda McKay Collins (Brian), Audra McKay Prater and Andrew Weston McKay (Maranda); 20 great-grandchildren, Bailey, Jordan, Millie Grace, Jackson, Luke, Zoie, Zanna, Zimeri, Zadie, Gabriel, Lucas, Landon, Braxton, Brian, Colin, Samantha, Tyler, Chloe, Hayden and Owen; and two great-great-grandchildren, Mckenzie and Hunter.
Pallbearers were L. J. Browning, Ryan Lyle, Derek Brown, Danny Turrentine, Andrew McKay and Luke McKay.
His great-grandsons were honorary pallbearers.
Special thanks go to Amanda and Penny at Hospice of the Valley.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley or the Gideons.